Tolly Cobbold
Encyclopedia
Tolly Cobbold is a former brewing company, with strong roots in Suffolk
, England
.
The original Cobbold brewery was founded in Harwich
, Essex
in 1723. The name Tolly Cobbold is an amalgamation of the two family run brewers the Tollemache Brewery owned by the Tollemache family and Cobbold Brewery owned by the Cobbold family in 1957. In 2002, the brewery was acquired by Ridley's brewery
.
In 2005 Ridley's was bought by Greene King and dismantled, before, many claim, the recipes for the traditional Ridley's beers could be sufficiently recorded by their new owners. As a result of the buyout, Tolly Original, the only Tolly Cobbold beer that Ridley's continued to brew in Chelmsford
, is likely to become extinct since Greene King are unlikely to continue brewing it. Greene King was the main sponsor of Ipswich Town F.C.
, which was established by the Cobbold family.
It was in 1746 that the Cobbold Cliff Brewery
was founded, at Cliff Lane, Ipswich
.
In the 1930s the Tollemache brewery underwent a large expansion, taking over the Cambridge Star Brewery
and building a number of mock-baronial pubs, mostly in Ipswich
. The ornate style, and the scale of the expansion, led to their being known as "Tolly Follies". They were based on the design of the Tollemache stately home, Helmingham Hall
. Most survive, though some, notably The Golden Hind in Cambridge
, which was the only Tolly Folly outside of Ipswich, underwent major alteration in the 1980s. The Waveney Arms on Bramford Road in Ipswich closed in 1994 and stood empty for a number of years, before being demolished for housing.
was donated to "The people of Ipswich" by the family, along with many other donations of land such as Ipswich Racecourse
. The family also provided several Members of Parliament for Ipswich over the years.
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The original Cobbold brewery was founded in Harwich
Harwich
Harwich is a town in Essex, England and one of the Haven ports, located on the coast with the North Sea to the east. It is in the Tendring district. Nearby places include Felixstowe to the northeast, Ipswich to the northwest, Colchester to the southwest and Clacton-on-Sea to the south...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
in 1723. The name Tolly Cobbold is an amalgamation of the two family run brewers the Tollemache Brewery owned by the Tollemache family and Cobbold Brewery owned by the Cobbold family in 1957. In 2002, the brewery was acquired by Ridley's brewery
Ridley's brewery
Ridley's Brewery is a defunct brewing company. It was founded in 1842, and was located in Hartford End, Essex. In August 2002 the company bought out the Tolly Cobbold brewery. Then, in 2005 Ridley's was bought by Greene King and dismantled...
.
In 2005 Ridley's was bought by Greene King and dismantled, before, many claim, the recipes for the traditional Ridley's beers could be sufficiently recorded by their new owners. As a result of the buyout, Tolly Original, the only Tolly Cobbold beer that Ridley's continued to brew in Chelmsford
Chelmsford
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...
, is likely to become extinct since Greene King are unlikely to continue brewing it. Greene King was the main sponsor of Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town F.C.
Ipswich Town Football Club are an English professional football team based in Ipswich, Suffolk. As of 2011, they play in the Football League Championship, having last appeared in the Premier League in 2001–02....
, which was established by the Cobbold family.
It was in 1746 that the Cobbold Cliff Brewery
Cliff Brewery
The Cliff Brewery is a former English brewery located on Cliff Lane, near the Ipswich wet dock. It was founded in 1746. The brewery ceased operations in 2002, when the Tolly Cobbold company merged with Ridley's brewery....
was founded, at Cliff Lane, Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
.
Tolly Follies
Star Brewery
The Star Brewery was a brewery located at Romford, England. For much of its history, it has been a main industry and a significant employer in the area. It was closed in 1993 and its former site has been redeveloped as a shopping centre named The Brewery, which opened in 2001...
and building a number of mock-baronial pubs, mostly in Ipswich
Ipswich
Ipswich is a large town and a non-metropolitan district. It is the county town of Suffolk, England. Ipswich is located on the estuary of the River Orwell...
. The ornate style, and the scale of the expansion, led to their being known as "Tolly Follies". They were based on the design of the Tollemache stately home, Helmingham Hall
Helmingham Hall
Helmingham Hall is a moated manor house in Helmingham, Suffolk, England. It was begun by John Tollemache in 1480 and has been owned by the Tollemache family ever since. The house is built around a courtyard in typical late medieval/Tudor style....
. Most survive, though some, notably The Golden Hind in Cambridge
Cambridge
The city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
, which was the only Tolly Folly outside of Ipswich, underwent major alteration in the 1980s. The Waveney Arms on Bramford Road in Ipswich closed in 1994 and stood empty for a number of years, before being demolished for housing.
The Cobbold family
The Cobbolds have an important status in Ipswich as the family were landowners in the town and surrounding area. Christchurch ParkChristchurch Park
Christchurch Park is a area of rolling lawns, wooded areas, and delicately created arboreta in central Ipswich, Suffolk, England. It contains Christchurch Mansion which holds a public museum and art gallery. The park opened as the town's first public park in 1895.-History:From the 12th century the...
was donated to "The people of Ipswich" by the family, along with many other donations of land such as Ipswich Racecourse
Ipswich Racecourse
The Ipswich Racecourse is an area of Ipswich that was formerly a racecourse.-The early years:The course was on Nacton Heath just East of Ipswich, although now a suburb, and was 1 mile and 7 furlongs in circumference...
. The family also provided several Members of Parliament for Ipswich over the years.
Tolly Cobbold Beers
Beers in the range included Tolly Original, Cobnut, Tolly Bitter, Tolly Mild, Old Strong, Old Strong Porter (bottle only). Tollyshooter (named in honour of the visit of Sir John Harvey-Jones to the brewery shortly after the 1990 management takeover) Cantab, Cardinal Ale, Cobbold's Conquest, Cobbold's IPA (a straw-coloured bitter), Beano Stout, Countdown, Election Ale (1997), Final Brew, Last Orders - a final brew in 2002.External links
- Tolly Cobbold Cliff Brewery - photos taken in Spring 2007